1
as in amateur
being such only for recreation
a toolshed that can be built by any jackleg carpenter who's capable of hitting a nail without smashing his thumb
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in inexperienced
lacking or showing a lack of expert skill
he did such a jackleg installation of that door frame that now the door won't shut
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
a jackleg lawyer whose clients consist mainly of drug dealers and child molesters
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as in kid
a person who lacks experience and competence in an art or science
you can't rely on a bunch of jacklegs to run your dairy farm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jackleg
Adjective
-
Rachel and Ray need to go on the run after Ray’s investigation into a corrupt pharmaceutical executive puts their live in peril.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025 -
And then reality crashes down around them in a series of scenes that expose the cruel hypocrisy of Iran’s corrupt system (which purports to uphold morality, but allows men in positions of authority to indulge themselves in egregious ways).—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
Hitler—still two years from power—was dismissed as a dithering amateur, reliant on speeches, crowds, and parliamentary niceties.—
Thomas Meaney,
New Yorker,
2 July 2025
-
The contest arrives as AI becomes an increasingly popular tool for musicians from amateurs to professionals — more than 60 million people used AI software to create music in 2024, according to the International Music Summit’s 2025 Business Report.—
Leslie Katz,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Adjective
-
Shot on low-grade digital cameras that made every image look even more apocalyptic and degraded, the film remains utterly terrifying, boasting excellent supporting turns from Naomie Harris and Brendan Gleeson as Jim’s fellow survivors.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
20 June 2025
-
The good news is that General Mills is more than 60% of the way to achieving its goal of advancing regenerative agriculture—farming practices that regenerate degraded soil—on a million acres of land by 2030.—
Dave Levinthal,
Fortune,
16 June 2025
Noun
-
But teaching kids to think critically while preserving their faith hasn’t always been easy.—
Kelly Puente,
The Tennessean,
12 July 2025
-
The kids grew up at home with Lawrence in Levelland, Texas.—
Julie Tremaine,
People.com,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the game as a last resort.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
1 July 2025
-
Alaska, Michigan, and Maine are among the latest states with paid sick or family leave laws on the books.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
This class is ideal for absolute beginners with no prior poker experience.—
Kris Slugg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 July 2025
-
The good news for both beginner and advanced riders is that there are multiple choices across the 40-odd models on the market these days.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
11 July 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Jackleg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jackleg. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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